The qualifying session for the 2025 Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort concluded with McLaren securing a front-row lockout. Oscar Piastri recorded the fastest lap in Q3, earning pole position ahead of teammate Lando Norris. This marks McLaren’s first front-row lockout since 1982.
Session Overview
- Date: Saturday, August 30, 2025
- Location: Circuit Zandvoort, Netherlands
- Track Conditions: Dry, with moderate wind; ambient temperature around 19°C
- Tyre Allocation: Pirelli C2 (Hard), C3 (Medium), C4 (Soft) compounds
Qualifying Results
| Position | Driver | Team | Time/Gap | Tyres used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:08.662 | 6 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +0.012 | 6 |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | +0.263 | 6 |
| 4 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | +0.546 | 6 |
| 5 | George Russell | Mercedes | +0.593 | 6 |
| 6 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | — | 8 |
| 7 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | — | 8 |
| 8 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | — | 6 |
| 9 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | +0.843 | 6 |
| 10 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +0.968 | 6 |
| 11 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | — | 4 |
| 12 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing | — | 5 |
| 13 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber | — | 4 |
| 14 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | — | 5 |
| 15 | Alexander Albon | Williams | — | 4 |
| 16 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | — | 3 |
| 17 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber | — | 3 |
| 18 | Esteban Ocon | Haas F1 Team | — | 3 |
| 19 | Oliver Bearman | Haas F1 Team | — | 3 |
| 20 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | — | 1 |
Key Developments
- Q1 Eliminated (P16–P20): Franco Colapinto (Alpine), Nico Hülkenberg (Kick Sauber), Esteban Ocon (Haas F1 Team), Oliver Bearman (Haas F1 Team), Lance Stroll (Aston Martin).
- Q2 Eliminated (P11–P15): Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull Racing), Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber), Pierre Gasly (Alpine), Alexander Albon (Williams).
- Q3: Piastri led Norris by 0.012s, with Verstappen third at +0.263s. Hadjar qualified fourth, ahead of Russell in fifth. Leclerc, Hamilton, and Lawson advanced to Q3 but did not set a time, classified sixth to eighth. Sainz and Alonso completed the top ten.
- Track Evolution: Lap times improved steadily across sessions due to increasing grip levels.
- Incidents: No major on-track incidents were reported, though Alonso and Russell came close during Q2 without contact.
Notable Performances
- McLaren: Consistent pace across sessions delivered a front-row lockout, with Piastri converting in Q3 and Norris close behind.
- Racing Bulls: Hadjar P4 and Lawson P8 underline strong single-lap speed; both reached Q3.
- Ferrari: Leclerc (P6) and Hamilton (P7) advanced to Q3 but registered no lap time.
- Mercedes: Russell starts P5; rookie Antonelli narrowly missed Q3 in P11.
- Red Bull Racing: Verstappen P3 within three tenths; Tsunoda out in Q2 (P12).
- Williams: Sainz P9; Albon P15.
Technical Notes
- The Zandvoort circuit features high-speed banked corners and limited overtaking zones, placing emphasis on qualifying performance.
- McLaren’s aerodynamic setup appeared optimized for the circuit’s downforce demands, contributing to their pace advantage.
- Verstappen, despite local support and historical success at Zandvoort, was unable to match McLaren’s pace in Q3.
Kursiv also reports on the final race that happened on August 31.
